Why isn't childhood obesity decreasing in Chile? Experts explain the causes
Despite public policies and greater awareness, specialists point to sedentary lifestyles, diet, and family habits as key factors behind this trend.
In Chile, childhood obesity remains a persistent health problem. Years after the surge recorded during the pandemic, the figures remain high. Data from the 2025 Nutritional Map of the National Board of School Assistance and Scholarships (Junaeb) confirm that this trend continues.
According to the report, overnutrition - which includes overweight and obesity - reached 51,7% in schoolchildren, a higher figure than the 50,9% of the previous year.
“After the pandemic we had a peak of close to 60%, and today it has remained around 50%. We have not managed to reduce it, we are stagnating,” warned Mauricio Orellana, an academic at the School of Nutrition and Dietetics of the University of Talca.
The nutritionist explained that this situation is due to multiple factors that have become more established in recent years. Among them, he emphasized the increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods, especially in the school setting.
“Snacks have changed a lot. Today many children carry money and buy products at kiosks, where snacks, sweets and foods of low nutritional value predominate,” she warned.
This is compounded by an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Children are spending less time playing outdoors. “Today they play less, spend more time with electronic devices, and share less time with their families,” the academic added.
Faced with this scenario, specialists agree that promoting physical activity from childhood is key to reversing the trend. “It is very important to encourage physical activity in children because it helps the development of the musculoskeletal system and the heart, in addition to reducing anxiety and stress,” explained Daisy Ramírez, an academic at the School of Kinesiology at UTalca.
The kinesiologist emphasized that the World Health Organization's recommendations indicate at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children, which can be distributed throughout the day through play or everyday activities.
Habits from a young age
Specialists from UTalca emphasized that the key to tackling childhood obesity lies in fostering healthy habits from the earliest years of life, involving both families and the school environment. “If we instill good habits from a young age, we will have healthier adults with a lower risk of chronic diseases,” explained Mauricio Orellana.
The nutritionist warned that these changes do not depend solely on the children, but also on the environment in which they develop, where many of their habits are formed.
Along these lines, Daisy Ramírez emphasized the importance of integrating exercise into daily life from childhood. “Parents should do physical activity with their children, go for walks, go to plazas or parks, and dedicate time to family activities. Physical activity is the medicine we should all take every day, at all ages,” she concluded.
